The Most Popular Window Coverings for Pet Owners in Raleigh
There’s a scenario pet owners in Raleigh are all too familiar with: leaving your house only to glance behind and see your dog or cat’s face peeking through the window as you walk away. For pet owners with certain types of window treatments, regular trips to the window may mean trouble, as dogs and cats can make for some of the worst and lasting harm to your window treatments.
So what can you do to prevent pet damage? The simplest way is to pick a pet-friendly window covering that can handle even the most excitable pets. Here are some of the best (and worst) window treatments for pet owners across North Carolina.
Window Treatments That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
Let’s start by taking a look at which window treatments homeowners with pets should avoid.
Corded Window Treatments
Similar to children’s window safety, cords are a big issue for pet owners. Both dogs and cats are known to play with dangling cords, which may result in damage to your window covering or worse, injury to your pet.
Opt instead for window treatments without cords, such as shutters that attach to the window frame or other window coverings that have a bottom-up top-down configuration or are motorized.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds are probably the worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do the blinds typically operate via cord, but they’re incredibly vulnerable to damage from even the most well-behaved pets. Dogs or cats looking through aluminum blinds can bend, warp, and even snap the flimsy slats, resulting in you having to replace the whole window treatment.
Fabric Window Treatments
Fabrics may be something to avoid, depending on your pet and the style of window covering. Lengthy fabrics like draperies can “puddle” on the ground, making them easy for dirty paws to stain. Fabric window coverings also usually end up collecting pet hair which eliminates any fashion value they could add. Finally, fabrics can tear, making them perfect targets for cat claws.
The Most Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window coverings don’t mix well with pets, let’s take a look at the most pet-friendly window treatments.
Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Most of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds fix for pet owners. Even if your pet wants to poke its head through the window, resilient wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than aluminum blinds. In addition, their usual wide slats make it harder for pets to get tangled in them.
However, be sure that if you go with wood or faux-wood blinds that you get ones that are cordless.
Plantation Shutters - The Best Window Treatment for Pets
If you’re worried at all about damage to your window treatments or injury to your pet caused by window treatments, plantation shutters might minimize those worries. Because they’re mounted directly into the window frame, there aren’t any hanging cords or fabric that may cause trouble. What’s more, even if your pets are able to climb up, Polywood® plantation shutters are scratch resistant and incredibly sturdy so damage is rarely a concern.
Plantation shutters can help keep pets happy as well. Own a pooch that wants to poke its head out the window as you head out? Shutters can make it easy without much risk of damage. Does your kitten like to have a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Simply adjust the louvers and let the light come through without giving up your privacy.
In short, plantation shutters are the most ideal window treatment for homes with pets.
